South Florida’s Venezuelan Community Marks Maduro’s Capture With Street Celebrations and Cautious Optimism

Car horns, fireworks and flags filled the night in several South Florida cities late Monday as thousands of Venezuelan expatriates gathered to mark the sudden ouster and arrest of President Nicolás Maduro. From the café-lined streets of Doral to the suburban parks of Weston, residents waved tricolor banners, sang the Venezuelan national anthem and shared phone calls with relatives still inside the country.

The impromptu celebrations erupted hours after U.S. military forces carried out a predawn raid on January 3 that removed Maduro from the presidential palace in Caracas and transferred him to federal custody. U.S. officials later confirmed the 63-year-old leader had been flown to a detention facility in New York to face long-standing narco-terrorism charges filed in 2020. His wife, Cilia Flores, was taken into custody alongside him.

For the estimated half-million Venezuelans living in South Florida, the news marked a dramatic turn in a political struggle that has shaped family separations, financial decisions and immigration status for more than a decade. Large crowds gathered outside restaurants along Northwest 87th Avenue in Doral, known locally as “Doralzuela” because of its concentration of Venezuelan businesses. Videos shared on social media showed people draped in flags dancing to traditional gaitas while chanting “Libertad.”

Joy tempered by concern

Despite the celebratory mood, conversations quickly shifted to worries about what will happen next. The White House has said the United States will oversee Venezuelan governance “until a judicious transition” can be organized, a statement that left many in exile both hopeful for democratic reform and anxious about potential instability. Inside Venezuela, reports from independent journalists described a mix of street protests, relief rallies and fear of reprisals as citizens processed the sudden power vacuum.

Air travel disruptions added to the uncertainty. Major carriers canceled or rerouted flights across the Caribbean after U.S. forces closed Venezuelan airspace during the operation, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. Several South Florida travel agencies said they were unable to secure seats for customers attempting to return to Caracas to check on relatives.

Legal questions surface

Maduro’s removal has already triggered a debate in Washington on the legality of a unilateral strike against a foreign head of state. Congressional leaders from both parties have requested classified briefings on the administration’s legal rationale and the long-term plan for managing Venezuela’s governmental functions. International law experts, including analysts at the Brookings Institution, noted that the United Nations Charter generally prohibits the use of force for regime change without Security Council authorization or imminent self-defense.

At a news conference Tuesday, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Lisa Monaco said Maduro will be arraigned on charges of conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and using armed militias to protect smuggling routes. If convicted, he could face life in federal prison. No trial date has been set.

Community leaders keep focus on humanitarian needs

Local Venezuelan organizations in Miami-Dade and Broward counties used the public gatherings to remind supporters of ongoing humanitarian challenges. Volunteers from Miami-based NGO Venezuela Awareness distributed flyers calling for medical supply donations and urging continued advocacy for political prisoners still held in the South American nation.

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Some celebrants carried photos of relatives who disappeared during years of anti-government demonstrations. “We are happy tonight, but our fight is not over,” said María González, a 34-year-old nurse who arrived in the United States in 2018. She held a poster of her brother, detained after protests in Maracaibo two years ago. Unlike most revelers, González avoided chanting support for direct U.S. control, saying she preferred “an internationally supervised transition led by Venezuelans.”

Business community watches currency markets

South Florida importers who rely on trade with Venezuela expressed cautious optimism that a new interim administration could stabilize the country’s currency and reopen ports. Freight forwarders at Port Everglades reported inquiries about timelines for resuming shipments of food, auto parts and construction materials. However, they emphasized that banking sanctions remain in place until Washington modifies its policy.

Economists noted that oil prices ticked up two percent in early trading on speculation that production from Venezuela’s state-run petroleum company could be disrupted during the transition. Analysts said any long-term impact will depend on whether the interim authorities honor existing contracts and invest quickly in refinery repairs.

Next steps unclear

The Pentagon has declined to specify how many U.S. troops remain on Venezuelan soil, though defense officials confirmed that “limited forces” continue to secure key government facilities and safeguard evidence related to narcotics trafficking. President Donald Trump told reporters he would not rule out a larger deployment if violence escalates.

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan military’s response remains uncertain. Early statements from several regional commanders indicated compliance with the new U.S.-led authority, but no single figure has yet emerged to head a civilian transition council. Opposition leader Juan Guaidó, residing in exile, said in a written statement he is “ready to contribute” if called upon.

Back in South Florida, organizers plan a candlelight vigil Wednesday at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami to honor protesters killed in previous clashes with Maduro’s security forces. For many attendees, the gathering will also serve as a reminder that a celebratory moment abroad is only the first step in what may be an extended and complex path toward rebuilding Venezuela’s political institutions.

Crédito da imagem: LiveABC News